Doing what you love is freedom, Loving what you do is happiness

As usually I am slacking with blog posts. But I am (for once) a bit ahead in the editing department so I figured I would squeeze in a little blog entry.

Aside from doing photography in most of my time, I spend a lot of time with my husband Vince and my bestie, Cooper. We hike and cook and go on boating trips. But recently, I’ve been doing yoga and it has really awakened a humbling and grateful part of my soul. I’ve always been grateful for my career; however, I’ve been thinking so much about how and why I do what I do and I truly believe it is what I am meant to be doing.

A lot of my clients ask me “so how did you get into photography?”

The direct answer: my mom bought me a camera when I was nine. I took pictures of my dog and clouds and waves at the beach (they’re still hanging in my childhood bathroom at my parents house!) but I never thought of photography as a career. I went to college for English and education (I’ve always loved kids) because I literally couldn’t think of anything else to do with my life. I graduated and started long-term subbing quite a bit and while I absolutely loved all of my students, I couldn’t land a full time job for the life of me. I came home crying daily and my husband finally sat me down and said “enough is enough… what do you want to do for the rest of your life?” I just stared at him and cried and he said, “how about photography? You clearly love it.” And that was literally that. Vince went on Craigslist and bought me $300 worth of photography related items and we never looked back. I did maybe 10 sessions my first year and continued teaching full time. I interviewed a million times at the school that I was long-term subbing at and I finally decided that I was going to push my photography business and go full time in the summer of 2015 when I was turned down for yet another job. Literally the next day, I was offered a full time (52k/year salary) and I turned it down. No promise of income whatsoever. People called me stupid. People doubted me and I really can’t blame them. I had 10 clients.

The real answer: I am doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing. My soul was purposely lead here. When I was unhappy at my teaching job, my grandmother used to say “My mother always said, if they wanted it to be fun, they would have called it play.” That absolutely crushed me. I couldn’t imagine working a job every day that I didn’t love. And now, I don’t. I love every second of every day with my clients. I work around the clock capturing memories for my clients and nothing makes me happier. I am truly blessed to be in this business and I feel like I’m “playing” every single day.

I often wonder what life would be like if I continued my teaching career. I think about who would have captured my client’s memories if I didn’t. All I know, is that I’m glad that I was lead here. All of the hardships, late nights and long days are so incredibly worth it. I am so grateful for my clients who trust me, my family and friends who believe in me and the world that forever inspires me. I promise, I don’t take any of your moments for granted.

“By doing what you love, you inspire and awaken the hearts of others.”